OMGOMGOMGOMG>>>>>> UPDATE!:

[4estgump]

Lickskillet,
I'm in Kentucky also. I feel so bad for your daughter and family. There are laws in Kentucky for things like this. Contact a lawyer not the other family. Get full replacement cost for your chickens and emotionall distress for all.
Your lawery will lead you through this. I will be saying words for you and your family.
Best Wishs 4est

 

[Im4Eggcellence]

Quote:
If it were me the approach taken would depend a lot on the facts of how this tragic situation unfolded. If the owners of this dog had a history of letting it run amok and causing trouble for their neighbors, then demanding compensation makes a lot of sense.

On the other hand if this is a case of responsible folks who just made a tragic slip-up, the equation changes in my mind. In that case, they have already paid a high price for their error - their beloved pet is also gone. And perhaps in that case, the best life lesson to teach could be compassion rather than retribution.

 

[JeffroDull]

Quote:
I'm with I4E here. These are your neighbours. Weigh carefully your options here as you need to live with these folks.

Discount the fact that they were "mean" when this first happened. Keep in mind that they also just lost a beloved pet just like you did.

And for the folks who are all about the dog got what he deserved, etc, please remember that he was an animla doing what he was born to do. He has no idea he is killing someone else's beloved pets...he's jsut being a dog.

I'm sorry for your loss and I fully understand the anger you are feeling but suing an otherwise (?) good neighbor for "emotional distress" is just plain vengeful and does nothing to bring back you chickens.

My $0.02.....

 

[cariboujaguar]

I'm sorry for your loss and I fully understand the anger you are feeling but suing an otherwise (?) good neighbor for "emotional distress" is just plain vengeful and does nothing to bring back you chickens


I agree on one hand, but also wonder just how much of a relationship can be salvaged with your neighbors when you shot their dog... it WAS your only safe option and totally what I would have done, but still, they don't sound like the forgiving type...

 

[killer]

the only way i would sue them is if they tried to sue me for the cost of the dog or tried to mess with me. other than that we might talk it out and still be good neighbors instead of bad and mad ones.

 

[RavenStorm]

Quote:
I'm with I4E here. These are your neighbours. Weigh carefully your options here as you need to live with these folks.

Discount the fact that they were "mean" when this first happened. Keep in mind that they also just lost a beloved pet just like you did.

And for the folks who are all about the dog got what he deserved, etc, please remember that he was an animla doing what he was born to do. He has no idea he is killing someone else's beloved pets...he's jsut being a dog.

I'm sorry for your loss and I fully understand the anger you are feeling but suing an otherwise (?) good neighbor for "emotional distress" is just plain vengeful and does nothing to bring back you chickens.

My $0.02.....

Hang on here you two. I was under the impression that this particular dog being on the loose was a very rare occurrence. I do not blame the dog, and honestly if the owners have been this good at keeping such a strong animal well contained for the vast majority of the time I don't put much blame on them either. I also do not believe that this is the fault of lickskillet or her family. In my mind, this appears to be a complete accident that ended badly for both sides.

That said, I still think she should pursue restitution. When you are in a car crash and it was a total accident that neither party could avoid, you both still have to determine who was mostly at fault and they should pay for the damages and from this situation the law would side against the dog owners. Perhaps in the vein of neighborliness, you could ask them what they would consider a fair restitution for the dog's life and you could come up with one for your chickens. You will both have original purchase price, feed, vet care, housing, and emotional damages in making up such a list. Then compare and hopefully you guys could work out a fair monetary amount.

If they refuse to even be cordial with you or your family, then proceed through other ways, i.e. the police, civil court, etc. You don't have to offer them anything, but if you try this method it might help save your relationship. Still, I say don't let it slide. You guys can call me heartless or any other name in the book, but to me I'm being realistic about the way the world works and I won't let anyone and their mistakes run amok on my life with things I care about.

 

[GaNewChick]

Quote:
That's the way I feel...plus there is a child involved here. Her parents have to take into account what impact it may have on her to drag it through the courts. She may go for it, she may want to move forward and put it behind her as best she can. I believe the neighbor has 7 kids (?) if so, they may ride the bus together, go to school together, play together. We just don't have enough details. IMO. there is more to this than just getting a few bucks back in my pocket and getting what I call "even". Sometimes talking it out and mending it is far more effective than suing.

I wish them all the best in settling this.

 

[chicken+quail=luv]

I feel very bad for you, but I must say that it's the dog's nature. My own dog has killed my chickens, and I didn't try to blame her for it. I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[Pitchfork]

Lickskillet:
Like everyone else posting on this thread I am sorry for your loss, and like, what appears to be 99% of the posters, I think you did the right thing. Those who have suggested that you might have grabbed up the dog must have never played tag with a dog. If the dog does not want to be grabbed you couldn't catch it if you tried. Anyone who has tried to catch a loose chicken that does not want to be caught knows how quick the dog has to be to catch one after another. If the dog does not respond to a command to stop you won't stop it. Breezy had it right. I was bitten once by my own dog, who was as lovable as any dog that ever lived, but he was fighting with a stray dog and he didn't know me from a post. He just knew that he was in a fight and anything that touched him was a possible threat.
If, after cooling down for a day or so, your neighbors can not accept that you had no choice but to protect your daughter and you animals then they are not very empathetic people. If they knew you, as we have come to know you just through these few post, then they would know that you would not willfully kill their dog, they would know that if their dog had given you an option you would have taken it. I know what I would have done. I would have yelled at the dog to stop as I was running for my gun. If the dog stopped I would have chased it off and then confronted the neighbors and asked them to pay for the lost property, if the dog did not stop I would have shot it just as your husband did.

 

[lickskillet]

Sorry everyone, I was going to update all of you this morning, when after MY mom calling this morning to wish me a Happy M-Day, I told her what happened last night and she, dad, sister and her kids decended on us within the hour! Literally! They have just left and couldn't beleive what happened, and the neighbors attitude for something their dog did. This is what took place this afternoon, the neighbors 2 oldest boys drove by in seperate vehicles, VERY slowly. They never said a word though. BTW It was beautiful here today and we/family were outside most of the time. Then about an hour later their youngest son and second to last son and daughter rode by on their bikes (they are around the same age as DD) down our road. These kids you NEVER see as they live more towards the end of the street, they NEVER ride bikes down this way! Anyway, my mom was swinging my 2yr old and the neighbors daughter yelled to HER you killed our dog! My mom said YOUR dog killed our chickens! I came around the corner and told mom not to talk to her for any reason. I'm sure the girl is still hurting for her dog, but she should have not come by our house and said these things. I have told the DD's not to talk with any of the family, unless it is them wanting to offer an apology or condolences on DD's chickens. We have a guinea hen right now in the house, and I can't find any puncture holes or blood on her but she is I believe on deaths door. Can a bird be frightened to death?? We have been watching the others close to see if they are REALLY OK. We still are undecided as to if we are going to ask for compensation. At this point I just want to know that the rest of the chickens will come to no harm from these neighbors, and it to be over with so that we can move on from the hurt. Thanks to everyone who has offered eggs and best wishes, we are not going to get anymore at this time, for fear of what neighbors <MIGHT> do. We will wait awhile and make sure nothing more comes of this. This morning we took off the lower chicken wire on the run to clean up the remnants of last night (feathers stuck in it from him pulling parts through in places) when they ran back in for safety. I'm posting pics on my BYC page NOW as I have quite a few DD and I took. Thanks